Method of preparing carbonated beverages



G. L.. N. MEYER 2,227,101

METHOD OF'PREPARING CARBONATED BEVERAGES Filed Aug. 12, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l hNNNQQ Dxmwrbmwe Dec. 3l, 1940. G. l.. N. MEYER 2,227,101

l METHOD 0F PREPARING CARBONATED BEVERGES A FledAug. 12, 1939 I5 Sheets-Sheet y2 (itItalia/ed Dec, 3l, 1940.. G. L. N. MEYER 2,227,101

'METHOD PREPARING CARBONATED BEVERAGES Filed Aug. 12, 1959 s sheets-sheet 3 Vaaz zu?? P50790 Patented Dec. 31,1940

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UNITED TrnraN'r George L. N. Meyer, Milwaukee, Wis. Application August 12, 1939, Serial No. 289,926

11 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to a method of preparing carbonated beverages for bottling.

According to the way carbonated beverages have heretofore been prepared, a predetermined 5 quantity of syrup or other ilavoring matter has been distributed into bottles and carbonated water under counter-pressure then introduced into the bottles on top of the syrup after which the pressure in the bottles was reduced to atmospheric 0 and the bottles then capped or sealed. After sealing, the bottles were rotated or shaken to agiiate and mix the syrup and the carbonated water. The syruping, filling with carbonated water, cap-v ping and agitating were each done on separate machines.

Since the individual bottles varied slightly in size and shape, and, as the syruper supplied a definite quantity of syrup, and the water filling machine usually filled the bottles to a definite level, it was almost impossible to insure absolute uniformity of the beverage.

In introducing the carbonated water into the bottles, great care had to be exercised to prevent its mixing with the syrup prior to capping, as any *25 mixing of the two, prior to capping, would cause the beverage to foam and overflow the neck of the bottles when exposed to atmospheric pressure.

The care required to prevent the mixing of the syrup and carbonated water, prior to capping the bottles, has necessitated a slow rate of water flow into the bottles, thus reducing valve capacity. In

order to obtain a high bottle output it is therefore necessary to have larger and more expensive ll- 85 ing machinery than would be required u the full valve capacity could be used in filling the bottles. Where attempts have been made to pre-mix the syrup and water prior to bottling, the syrup was mixed in a tank with an uncarbonated water. 40 The mixture was then carbonated by a candle or stone for a long period of time during which carbon dioxide (C02) gas was allowed to escape and bubble through the mixture, thus working out the air dissolved in the water. The mixture 5 of syrup and uncarbonated water causes the growth of bacteriel with consequent flavor changes because of dilution of the syrup. Also, the bubbling of the air and carbon dioxide through the mixture removes volatile oils and esters and results in an inferior product. t

One object of the present invention is to prol (Cl. S29-79) excessive foaming will be obviated when bottling the mixed ingredients of a carbonated beverage. A further object oi the present invention is to provide amethod by means of which the apparatus employed to bottle carbonated beverages 5 will be simplified.

' A further object is to provide a method which will eliminate expensive machinery now necessary to bottle carbonated beverages.

A further object is to provide la method of 10 bottling carbonated beverages which will produce a more uniform product. v

A further object is to provide a method of ,bottling carbonated beverages which will increase the speed of fllling the bottles.

A further object is toprovide a method of bottling carbonated beverages which will increase the plant production.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description. 20

' According to the present invention, the beverage is prepared by mixing a deaerated water with a avoring syrup, the water being carbonated either before or after mixing with the syrup and the resulting beverage then bottled. 25

In the drawings: l

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one apparatus capable of carrying out the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the lower portion of the mixing tank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section through the bottom of the mixing tank and through the discharge head for the. syrup; y

Fig. 4 is a modification of the invention showing a second method of effecting a mixing of syrup and carbonated water; and

Fig. 5 is a modification of the invention showing a second apparatus capable of carrying out the principles thereof. t

It is a. well known fact that air is very slightly soluble in water. and any air which may be dissolved in water is easily driven oil'.

It has been found that air in solution in the water used in a carbonated beverage is responsible for both foaming where the syrup is mixed with a carbonated water, andV for flavor changes and loss of volatile oils and esters where the syrup is mixed with an uncarbonated water and subsequently carbonated.

When syrup is mixed with a carbonated water the foaming which occurs has been found to be due to the air leaving the solution and carrying with it quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. The tendency to `foam is greatervif the sugar is thoroughly dispersed as it drives out air particuo1' the water to approximately 3 ce. per litre.

The pump i5 withdraws the deaerated water through the pipe It and delivers it under pressure to the carbonator i6. The carbonator i6 impregnates the deaerated water with carbonio acid gas (CO2) until the water has absorbed the desired quantity, usually from 3 to 5 volumes depending upon the CO2 pressure and water temperature, and delivers the carbonated water to the pump I3, which raises the pressure from`20 i to about pounds per square inch.

The water upon leaving the pump i8 passes through the meter I9, winch is preferably of the type adapted to deliver a predetermined quantity of liquid and then automatically shut ofi the supply.

The carbonated water then nows through the pipe l1 and into the mixing tank 269 which is. maintained under a constant pressure approximately the same as the carbonator by the air pump 2i. The syrup which has been cooled to a temperature as low as or lower than that of the water and properly rested to reduce its air content to a minimum is pumped by the pump 2s through the pipe 2li, metered by the automatic meter 25, and delivered to the mixing tank iii through the delivery head 26, described above, where it mixes with the entering carbonated water. The meter 25 is kdesigned to shut od the flow off syrup when a predetermined quantity has entered the tanir iii. The beverage thus formed is mixed by the agitator 2? during the iilling of the tank so that when the tank is full the syrup and carbonated water are thoroughly blended. The nished product may be drawn on? and delivered to the iillingmachines (not shown) which supply the beverageto thecontainers.

It will be noted that the beverage in the tank is in an under-saturated condition as to CO2, and that by the proper control of temperature and pressure within the tank 2t this condition can be varied at will to give greater or ,lesserl percentage of saturation.

in order to further guard against an excess of air in the syrup and insure against foaming it is sometimes desirable to first blow off the lpressure in the tank 2i) and reduce the pressure to atmospheric. As the pressure approaches atmospheric Y the condition of the gas in solution changes from under-saturated to super-saturated and if excess air is present some of the CO2 will come out of solution and wash out the air leaving a beverage i'ree of air which will not foam when putin botf ties. Pressure is then re-applied in the tank 20 and the beverage supplied to the iilling machine for delivery to the bottles.

Ii carbon dioxide gas is available in large quantities, the deaeration may be accomplished by allowing CO2 to bubble through the water. The CO2 bubbling through the water carries with it the air, in solution, thus performing the function o! the deaerator l2.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 the cooling, carbonating and mixing are done in the carbo-cooler, and the finished beverage supthe proper templied directly to the iilling machines for delivery to containers.

Having thus described the'invention, it will be realized that it is susceptible to various changes and modiiications, and it is therefore not desired to limit thelinvention to the precise orms herein shown and described but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, it is hereby claimed as follows:

l. A method of preparing a carbonated beverage comprising, deaerating a cool water and mix-- ing the deaerated water with a cool fiavoring syrup' and carbonating prior to bottling.

2. A method of preparing a carbonated beverage comprising, deaerating a water, mixing the deaerated water with a syrup, carbonating the resultant mixture and cooling the mixture preparatory to bottling.

3. A method of preparing a carbonated beverage comprising, deaeratin'g a water, cooling a syrup, cooling the water and mixing the deaerated water with the syrup and carbonating preparatory to bottling.

4. A method of preparing a carbonated beverage comprising, deaerating a water, mixing the deaerated water with a avoring syrup and carbonating the mixture preparatory to bottling.

5. The method of preparing carbonated beverages comprising, carbonating a deaerated water and mixing the carbonated Water with a fiavoring syrup preparatory to bottling.

6. The method of preparing carbonated beverages comprising, deaeratinga water until the air content is less than 8 cc. per litre, carbonating the deaerated water and mixing the carbonated water with a predetermined quantity of flavoring syrup preparatory to bottling.

7. The method of preparing carbonated beverages comprising, cooling a quantity of water, deaerating the cooled water until the air content is less than 8 cc. per litre, carbonating the deaerated water, mixing the carbonated water under pressure with a syrup, bringing the mixture to a state where it is super-saturated with CO2 and reducing the mixture to an under-saturated condition preparatory to bottling.

8. The method of preparing carbonated beverages comprising, carbonating a predetermined quantity of deaerated water, delivering the carbonated water at an increased pressure toa mixing tank, supplying a predetermined quantity of avoring syrup to the mixing tank and blending the syrup with the water preparatory to bottling.

' taneously mixing a syrup with the deaerated water and carbonating the mixture.

11. A method of preparing a carbonated beverage comprising, deaerating a water and mixing a syrup with said deaerated water, and simultaneously cooling and carbonating the mixture.

GEORGE L. N. MEYER. 

